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Sore hocks in Rex rabbits

22 10:16:42

Question
QUESTION: I have several rabbits in my care who have bare spots on their hind feet, and one new foster rabbit who is with me specifically because he has sore hocks and the shelter is not able to provide the conditions that may correct this. I have read your helpful information at http://en.allexperts.com/q/Rabbits-703/Sore-Hocks-1.htm as well as the excellent detailed page you refer to in that article. What I'm wondering is whether there is any surface - other than grass (which relatively few urban adopters of house rabbits can offer) - that would prevent this from recurring, so we can find him the safest home possible. This lovely rabbit (age unknown) is a mid-size Rex with very wide hips (he may be overweight, but his frame is very pear-shaped) - so sore hocks is certain to be a lifelong risk.

ANSWER: Dear Robin,

Rex rabbits are more prone to sore hocks than other breeds because they lack the tough guard hairs of non-mutant rabbits.  If they are overweight or have arthritis that makes them posture in an unsual way, they are even more at risk.

No flooring surface is going to be perfect at preventing this problem, since it's generated not only by the flooring, but also by the bunny's posture, gait, and fur type.  But the best type of flooring to prevent hock sores will have a nice bit of cushion (a very good quality carpet padding can be used underneath a 100% cotton bath mat) and give to it so that the foot bends in a natural position, and doesn't always stay straight, as it will on a harder surface.

If there is enough fur on the bottom of the foot, you can actually pull it over so that it covers the bald patch, and apply a *tiny* bit of super glue to the *fur* (not the skin!) on the opposite side of the foot, but NOT on the bottom of the foot (which would create more irritation).  This keeps the fur in place and allows new fur to re-grow.

I hope this will help you with your bunnies!

Dana

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you very much for those ideas. (Alas, my lovely Rex not only has large bald areas on his feet and very short foot-fur, he also has excellent incisors and the coordination and determination to remove his cusioned booties in mere minutes.) In terms of potential adopters' homes, any comments on what to do about free-range house rabbits where the existing flooring may be wall-to-wall carpeting (polyester/nylon ranging from thin indoor/outdoor style carpet without padding to thicker berber or twist with padding)? I'm wondering whether it's better to have "any" fibre than a hard surface (like hardwood, laminate, lineoleum, tile) or whether a harsh top fibre isn't a big advantage at all.
   In a contained

Answer
Dear Robin,

I've known people who had sore hock bunnies on tile, wood, linoleum, synthetic carpeting and wire.  There's just no easy answer here.  The one type of surface that does not seem to promote sore hocks is natural grass, but as you say, that's pretty hard to come by for a house rabbit.

We have an elderbun who's on soft, cushiony cotton and he *still* gets bald spots.  I'm starting to think it's more a matter of the way a bunny postures and holds his feet than of the surface he stands on, and the answer might be that the more "natural" a surface is, the better.  As in:  outdoors.

I wish I had a good answer, but you've read all I've got.  :(  Wish I could say otherwise.  If there's suspicion that the bun has arthritis or other reason for sore joints, metacam or other analgesic can help with that, and this alone can help restore more normal posture.  It doesn't always work, but it might be worth a try.

Good luck!

Dana